Donatos Pizza, one of the nation’s original fast-casual pizza chains, signed a development deal that will bring four new locations to Charleston, South Carolina, over the next few years.
Donatos will open its first Charleston location in Summerville this May. The restaurant, located at 214 Azalea Square Boulevard, will mark the company’s first location in South Carolina. The Columbus, Ohio–based restaurant chain currently has over 150 locations nationwide, but only four on the East Coast: two in Virginia and two in North Carolina.
“We are extremely excited to bring Donatos to the Charleston market. It’s a territory we’ve had our eyes on for quite some time, and hope this expansion will open even more doors for us as we continue to boost our brand footprint across the East Coast,” says Tom Pendrey, COO of Donatos Pizza. “We are highly confident that our premium quality products and exceptional service will be met with warm reception among the Charleston community.”
The new restaurants will be owned and operated by local residents Dane and Jaclyn Kopnisky, the second of which is slated to open in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. The third and fourth locations are planned for West Ashley and North Charleston.
“Donatos has been near and dear to my heart ever since I worked at one of its locations in Ohio during my teenage years,” says Dane Kopnisky. “It feels very surreal that now I get to own not just one, but four, and I am honored to be able to share a piece of home with the Charleston community. I know that they will love Donatos as much as I do.”
Donatos Pizza was founded in 1963 in Columbus, Ohio, by 19-year-old Jim Grote. In 1999, McDonald’s purchased the chain, by then considered a gold standard in the pizza delivery. But in 2003, when the company later decided to refocus on burgers, Jim and his daughter, Jane, bought back Donatos.
Today, Donatos has remained a favorite in Ohio and beyond. The restaurant serves strombolis, sub sandwiches, and salads in addition to its Edge-to-Edge pizza, Donatos’ trademark, which comes with more than 100 pieces of pepperoni on it.
Along with the dine-in experience, Donatos also offers delivery and catering services, along with 26 toppings for customizable and signature pizzas.
